My presentation — Build Your Best Self To Tackle Your Goals — was built on the strategy of positioning oneself on the best path possible to reach his or her goals and was presented to minority students from high schools across Connecticut – the target audience of the summit itself.

The group was made up mostly of seniors and juniors, with chaperones and other teachers and administrators also sitting in on the presentation. The summit provided a day filled with motivational presentations and informational speakers and workshops, enabling students with tools for a holistic approach to the next chapter in their lives, most likely being college. These were all resources the students would likely not have access to in their everyday environments.

So when I finished my PowerPoint presentation in one of the three workshops I delivered, with 50 or so students in each, I opened the floor up to whomever might have a question, and that’s when I got the question about quitting.

(In hindsight: As cynical as I may be, my positivity works just as hard, trying to convince me that the young woman asking the question didn’t mean the question in the sense of, “Wow, you suck at this. Have you ever considered not torturing America’s next working generation with your opinions?”)

So I took a few seconds to ponder her question. And it didn’t take longer than that because, like most people, I’m my biggest enemy and critic, so I’m familiar with where I stand in terms of my insecurity and confidence. No one is perfect. Everyone tends to have that inner voice that provides critiques of our actions, steps, and ideas. It tends to be the loudest and, sometimes, only voice we might listen, or give credence, to.

Most people feel that sense of imposter syndrome – and that’s the first thing that came to mind when she asked the question. Quitting is based in doubt, and so is the imposter syndrome. But that doubt has never pushed me to succumb to that inner voice or consider quitting.

So I told her that, no, I had never thought about quitting, but that I, like anyone else, might sense my insecurities at times. And that can be a good thing, I told them, now addressing everyone in the room, because it’s important to take one’s fear into consideration. Avoiding fear only cripples you; the energy you use to fight off and avoid fear could otherwise be utilized to build upon what you’re good at and what you love.

Being aware of your insecurities but not giving into them will help you remain aware, pragmatic, and prepared, instead of blind, overconfident, and aloof.

In thinking about what keeps me balanced – sensing that imposter syndrome, but not being lulled into quitting – I thought about what keeps me moving forward.

Keeping in Mind the Perceived Negative Force

Insecurity Everybody is bound to feel insecure. What can we do about it? What DO we do about it? Think clearly about it, don’t hide from it, and power through by thinking about the positive outlined below.

Naysayers This is another common factor. If you do have them, why do they exist? Who are they? What does their lack of belief really do to who you are and what you want? Instead, surround yourself with the right people and experiences.

Keeping in Mind the Tangible Experience

Your Product What is it you deliver to your clients? Think about the time you’ve taken to learn your craft and the value delivered to your customers or clients.

Your Client In the value provided to your clients, think about the good it does for their life. Whether it’s an incremental positive lesson or a life-changing shift in mindset, think about how much better you help them make their lives.

Keeping in Mind the Positive Results

Purpose Think about how you were made to deliver what it is you do and who you are. Do you know your purpose in life? Do you want purpose in life? Some people do, while other people aren’t aware that they should ask that question, and still others don’t necessarily need to tap into a higher purpose. But, what makes YOU tick?

Goals So, based on what your purpose is, how do you want it to, in essence, materialize? What will it look like for you to achieve it? What does it look like when you’ve gotten to that point where you exhibit your purpose?

This is why quitting didn’t occur to me. These are my general reasons. Because I study leadership and development, I know that at the very least I should understand these things about myself.

Even though students might not have clients or customers at this stage in life, everyone they come in contact with or work with is a customer of the value which they can provide. Everyone, no matter his or her age, should give consideration to the value they provide to others.

What examples have you seen of a temperamental, emotional #leader delivering great results?
If you did witness such a case, how was it the environment actually came to be successful?
#leadership#organization#boss#manager

Leadership Lesson: There can be no growth or development forward if you’re tolerating too much, unwisely using your precious resources, including energy and reputation, to hold things together or keep appearances.
#leadership#coaching#relationshipsow.ly/YwgW30pnARA

Some quotes can speak to us directly. If there are none that have spoken to you, or driven you to push forward, what advice received in your own experience has motivated you to push forward with everything you have?
#motivation#drive#success#coachingow.ly/lSp030mzXov

@VPsalesBD@AdamMGrant@seanmlandry It's important to define 1:1. They don't necessarily lead to micromanagement. The best ones I've seen are more, "What are you up to? What do you need? What's your plan going forward? Ok, after all that, here's what I can suggest. Let me know what you need before our next 1:1."

My top tip: Before you declare a major, go interview 5 people in the field you'd like to enter after graduation. The industry landscape will shift, but try to get a sense of what awaits you -- the good and the bad.
#college#careers#development#lifeow.ly/csLo30plqA5

Leadership Lesson: We need to understand what it is that keeps us repeating those behaviors, habits, and practices that keep us from our best development and goals.
Is it Fear? Complacency? Distraction? Tradition?
#fear#legacy#development#leadershipow.ly/ccRg50vnrgy

There IS a huge difference between shyness and introversion.
Most times, understanding the root of how you approach life, work, projects, and people, helps you work to harness it, refine it, to make it work for you.
#introversion#shyness#developmentow.ly/d7zC30kP0nv

What do you think? What have you seen? How much have you demonstrated when you've interviewed? Where is that sweet spot between This is who I am and This is what I can do for you?
Resume alone is not enough.
#interview#hiring#coaching#successow.ly/FrGi30pfvn9